“When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.””
John 1:47
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Jesus knows who we are
Isaac sat in the dark of his tent, unsure which son stood before him, and Jacob deceived him. Jesus saw Nathanael coming and knew him at once as a "true Israelite" with no deceit. When Nathanael asked, "How do You know me?" (John 1:48), Jesus had already seen him.
Read the whole studyConnection with Isaac blesses Jacob
Jesus called Nathanael an Israelite with no deceit because He was naming Jacob's story over a man who had none of Jacob's trick in him. "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit" (John 1:47) uses the Greek dolos (G1388). The Greek Bible of His day used that same word when Isaac told Esau, "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing" (Genesis 27:35).
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The Greek translation of Genesis that the first Christians read rendered Isaac's word with dolos (G1388), a trick. When Jesus first saw Nathanael He said, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit" (John 1:47), and the word is dolos. Isaiah had written of the Servant God would send, "nor was any deceit in His mouth" (Isaiah 53:9), with mirmah again, and Peter quoted it of Jesus: "no deceit was found in His mouth" (1 Peter 2:22).
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How to Hear God’s Voice: A Practical Guide for BelieversScripture is the record of a God who speaks. This guide covers how to hear Him today and keep what He says.Engage with John 1:47 in a fresh way
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